Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 8 · column 4 of 7 · from the scan, no model involved
Budget
From page A1
that “five percent is up in the air for compromise until the budget (is) approved by the legislature.” Gangel also reminded the group that projected enrollment and next year’s sales tax and economy also figure into the budget equation.
For the first time in nearly a decade, the Composite Index favors the county. The index is a mathematical formula used by the state to determine how state funds should be distributed. It is based primarily on student enrollment, real estate assessments, and sales taxes. Gangel explained that the Composite Index is recalculated every two years. “Rappahannock County outpaced other areas for most of the decade,” as real estate values soared. This put the county at a competitive disadvantage when vying for state money. “But in the last biennium,” said Gangel, “other (counties) caught up, and surpassed us,” while Rappahannock property values stabilized. The county is now eligible for a comparative windfall in state and federal funds.
97.6%